Online Tech Programmer

Guerrilla, the Amsterdam-based developer of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, is looking for a Game Server Engineer to support our Online Tech team with the upcoming multiplayer project.

Our Online Tech Team

Our Online Tech team builds reliable, maintainable and performant online systems. We work with various other disciplines to create tools needed to build online game features. We deliver the networking and replication layers for both game client and server, integration with online platform services (e.g. PSN), authentication, matchmaking, leaderboards, and online player profiles. The team works in close collaboration with our Online Infrastructure team, which designs and maintains the build and deployment environments for our servers.

Our Technology

For our game backend services, we use industry-standard web technologies: Java, Tomcat and Spring. Our game communicates through REST and has a persistent HTTPS connection to receive notifications. To sync multiple game clients in real time we’re using C++ and a custom UDP-based protocol. We share as little state as possible between web instances and use Hazelcast to synchronize when needed. We use Kubernetes (Amazon EKS) to host our services and use other AWS services like S3 and DynamoDB to store persistent data. We use OpenAPI to describe our web services.

What You Will Do

As an Online Tech Programmer (Java) we will look to you to:

Help build a highly scalable and highly available online server environment;
Work on player systems focused on persistence, safety, retention, and engagement;
Cooperate with multiple internal stakeholders and disciplines to achieve the game’s vision;
Develop, test and maintain our zero downtime deployment system;
Integrate the game servers with the PlayStation Network and other third party services;
Help integrate the backend services in the game client if you are comfortable with C++;
Work closely with the DevOps Engineers in the Online Infrastructure team to ensure robustness, scalability and performance of our servers;
Keep up to date with the Java world and introduce new technologies when they are relevant for Guerrilla.

Who You Are

We'd love to hear from you if you:

Have experience writing Java server software (game industry experience and experience with Spring Boot are a plus);
Have a firm grasp on software design and architecture, and enjoy writing code that is both maintainable and performant;
Write clean, robust and testable code, and are familiar with automated testing techniques and frameworks;
Have a deep understanding of web-related technologies (e.g. HTTP, REST, Message Queuing);
Have experience with version control systems such as Git or Perforce;
Have strong written and verbal communication skills;
Have a helpful, solution-minded approach;
Have an interest in online gaming.

Interested?

If you are up for the challenge, hit the “apply now” button to submit your application to us. Be sure to submit your CV, motivation letter, and, if possible, a code sample that shows your best and most recent work.

Please note: This position is based in our studio in the heart of Amsterdam. Guerrilla offers relocation and immigration support.

At Guerrilla, we believe that our team’s varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives help us create games that resonate with a diverse audience.

As an equal opportunities employer, we strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity.

We encourage everyone to respond as we consider all candidates on the basis of their merit, unique strengths, and perspectives they will bring to the role.

Apply now

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does Guerrilla offer remote positions?

A: Unless stated otherwise, our vacancies are based on-site, in our studio in Amsterdam. For qualified candidates, we offer visa, permit, relocation and immigration support. Depending on role, we do offer hybrid work models allowing our employees to work from home one or more days per week.

Q: I don't have any work examples. Can I still apply for a job?
A: It's essential that you can prove to us that you have the necessary skills for the job. Rushing into an application without supplying the required materials won't leave a good impression. In general, it's a good idea to put together an excellent portfolio before you start applying for jobs.

Q: I have no experience in the games industry. Can I still get a job with you?
A: Games industry experience is certainly a bonus, but it's not always necessary. It's important to put together an excellent portfolio that demonstrates your skills and your understanding of the game development process.

Q: I applied for a job with you, but I haven’t heard back. What happens now?
A: We aim to respond to all applications within three weeks. Due to the volume of requests, this sometimes takes a little longer. If you have not heard from us within three weeks, your application was most likely unsuccessful.

Q: How can I arrange a job interview with you?
A: We receive so many applications that we are only able to arrange interviews with the most suitable candidates. It's important that your application stands out from the crowd. Go ahead, impress us!

Q: I'm considering working at Guerrilla in the future. Is it possible for me to come for a tour of the studio?
A: Because of the confidential nature of the projects that we are working on, we cannot allow visitors into the studio. The most impressive job applicants will be invited for an interview, and will have an opportunity to visit some of the development areas.

Q: I'm a university student looking for a company that can help me with a (master) thesis assignment. Can we arrange a meeting to look at the different possibilities?
A:We like to help out with university level assignments when we can! However, due to time constraints and deadlines this isn't always possible. Please send a brief e-mail outlining the aims of your assignment and what input you would need from us. We'll let you know if we are able to help you.

Q: I'm a high school student and I have to do a school assignment on media and entertainment. Can I make an appointment for an interview with one of your employees to discuss this?
A: Due to the sheer number of requests we receive, we regret that we are unable to participate in interviews with school students.

Q: I have a great idea for a game. How can I submit it to you?
A: All of our game concepts are developed by our internal designers, in conjunction with our publishers. It is company policy not to accept game concepts from third parties.

Q: I'm still in school and I want to get a job in games in the future. What kind of education and skills do I need to achieve this goal? Can you provide me with information on the schools that teach this discipline?
A: The skills required to work in the games industry are very broad, as there are many areas in which you can work. In development there are roles in art, animation, programming, design, and project management. Other industry roles include sales, marketing, PR, and testing. The most important thing is to get an education in subjects that you enjoy and that you are good at. Your career adviser should be able to give you guidance as to which careers are suitable for an individual with your particular skills.